About the District
The 49th congressional district covers the northern coastal areas of San Diego County and a few cities in the southern part of Orange County.
The district includes the cities of Dana Point, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, and Del Mar. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is also in the district.
The district includes the cities of Dana Point, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, and Del Mar. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is also in the district.
TOTAL VOTERS REGISTERED IN THE 49TH DISTRICT AS OF MAY, 2018
385,931
385,931
49TH DISTRICT VOTER REGISTRATION BY PARTY AS OF MAY, 2018
36.3% REPUBLICAN
31.1% DEMOCRATIC
26.9% NO PARTY PREFERENCE
36.3% REPUBLICAN
31.1% DEMOCRATIC
26.9% NO PARTY PREFERENCE
The 49th district has an unusually balanced mix of Republican, Democratic, and Independent voters as measured by registration. Registered Republicans slightly outnumber Democrats.
About the 2018 Election
Republican Congressman Darrell Issa currently represents the 49th district. In the 2016 election, Issa won by a margin of less than 1 percentage point (1,621 votes) over Democratic challenger Doug Applegate. In early 2018, Issa announced he was not seeking re-election.
16 candidates jumped into the Top-Two "jungle" primary to replace Issa, including four Democrats and eight Republicans. After one of the most expensive primary campaigns in the country (with over $19 million spent), a Republican and a Democrat won spots on the final ballot in November.
Diane Harkey is the Republican candidate for the general election. She is experienced, tough, and smart, but she also has a lot of baggage.
Harkey held senior positions in a family company that was sued by its investors for operating a classic Ponzi scheme and she funded her political campaigns with money from that company.
Her tenure at the State Board of Equalization was marred by scandal because of misallocated funds and cronyism, leading Governor Brown to strip the agency of most of its power and downsize it dramatically. Harkey will not be afraid to fight dirty in the general election campaign.
Mike Levin is the Democratic candidate. He has practiced as an attorney specializing in environmental and energy issues and served as Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Orange County.
Levin ran a tough and disciplined primary campaign, coming from behind to best the 2016 challenger and two self-funded opponents who spent millions of dollars on their own campaigns.
While The Cook Political Report rates this race as "Lean Democratic", this is still mostly a Republican district and the battle will be very, very tough. CA-49 only "leans Democratic" because everyone assumes the Democrats in Southern California are energized and willing to fight. Now we have to follow through.
16 candidates jumped into the Top-Two "jungle" primary to replace Issa, including four Democrats and eight Republicans. After one of the most expensive primary campaigns in the country (with over $19 million spent), a Republican and a Democrat won spots on the final ballot in November.
Diane Harkey is the Republican candidate for the general election. She is experienced, tough, and smart, but she also has a lot of baggage.
Harkey held senior positions in a family company that was sued by its investors for operating a classic Ponzi scheme and she funded her political campaigns with money from that company.
Her tenure at the State Board of Equalization was marred by scandal because of misallocated funds and cronyism, leading Governor Brown to strip the agency of most of its power and downsize it dramatically. Harkey will not be afraid to fight dirty in the general election campaign.
Mike Levin is the Democratic candidate. He has practiced as an attorney specializing in environmental and energy issues and served as Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Orange County.
Levin ran a tough and disciplined primary campaign, coming from behind to best the 2016 challenger and two self-funded opponents who spent millions of dollars on their own campaigns.
While The Cook Political Report rates this race as "Lean Democratic", this is still mostly a Republican district and the battle will be very, very tough. CA-49 only "leans Democratic" because everyone assumes the Democrats in Southern California are energized and willing to fight. Now we have to follow through.
About the Candidates
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE: MIKE LEVIN
Background: Graduate of Stanford University and Duke University School of Law. Practicing as an attorney focused on environmental and energy regulatory compliance and government affairs. Was Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Orange County. Served on the board of the Center for Sustainable Energy. Married, two children, lives in San Juan Capistrano.
Key Issues: Climate change, renewable energy, campaign finance reform, health care for all, education.
Positions:
Key Issues: Climate change, renewable energy, campaign finance reform, health care for all, education.
Positions:
- Passionate about climate change, sustainable energy, and environmental protection and believes that a transition to a sustainable energy future is an imperative. Wants the United States to be a leader in clean energy technology. In favor of a revenue-neutral carbon tax and cap-and-trade policies.
- Vocal proponent of a permanent solution to the hazardous nuclear waste stored at San Onofre.
- Strong advocate of campaign finance reform including a constitutional amendment to undo Citizens United.
- Supports Medicare for All as a single player solution to provide healthcare to all Americans.
- Will fight against privatization of education and will push for resources for public schools to get great teachers, reduce class sizes, and double down on STEM education.
- Will fight for increased funding for scientific research including NIH.
- Supports a $15 minimum wage.
- In favor of additional Wall Street reform to prevent another 2008 crash.
- Supports women's rights including the right to choose.
- Will fight to protect Social Security and Medicare to ensure a safety net for senior citizens.
- Supports reform of Veterans Affairs policy to prevent for-profit schools from targeting active and veteran service members for their money.
- Will fight for LGBT rights.
- Supports expanding Brady background checks to all gun sales.
- Supports comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship but also with increased border security and a requirement for undocumented immigrants to pay back taxes and study English.
- Will fight for humane treatment of animals under the Animal Welfare Act.
- Will advocate for federal legislation to clarify state and local roles in addiction treatment to ensure proper licensing, ethical treatment, and prevent addiction treatment fraud.
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE: DIANE HARKEY
Background: Currently serving as Chair of the California State Board of Equalization (a state agency charged with tax administration and fee collection). Prior to being elected to the Board of Equalization in 2014, Harkey served three terms in the California State Assembly representing the 73rd District. Before her career in public service, Harkey spent 30 years in the private sector working in corporate finance and banking. Married with one child. Lives in Dana Point.
Key Issues: Taxes, spending, veterans affairs, immigration reform, support of Israel
Positions:
Controversies:
Point Center Financial Ponzi Scheme
Harkey held a senior position and was invested in her family’s company, Point Center Financial, which was sued by its investors – including retirees – for operating “a classic Ponzi scheme.” The company was found liable for $10 million in damages, and then found guilty of 11 charges of elder abuse. What’s more, Harkey used the profits from the company to fund her own political campaigns. She was even sued by people who were ripped off by this shady company to recoup their losses that she allegedly spent on her own political ambitions.
As the fraudulent company was under investigation by the SEC, and while Harkey was in the California State Assembly, she accepted $16,600 from firms borrowing millions from the fraudulent company. She even doubled down, saying it was “totally proper.”
The California Court of Appeal recently affirmed the multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme judgment against Harkey's husband. Dan Harkey had urged the appellate panel to overturn the original jury findings that he breached his fiduciary duties, committed financial elder abuse and flagrantly violated agreements with numerous investors who’d believed his fraudulent claims.
In a July 30 ruling, the court rejected Harkey’s appeal, declaring that “substantial evidence supports the jury’s and the trial court’s conclusions that he repeatedly made 'illusory' statements to pitched investors... Harkey looted the plaintiffs’ investment funds by running a Ponzi scheme to amass fees in their own interest on loans with only a pretense of underwriting and sham rollover loans violating operating agreements."
Despite trying to distance herself from the fraudulent company, Harkey’s connections are obvious. Besides using the profits to fund her political campaigns and being named in lawsuits related to the company, Harkey was: Invested in the company, listed as the company’s secretary in official filings, and reporting this company as her employer in campaign finance documents. And when pressed about the source of her massive political spending, Harkey admitted that it possibly came from the company’s fraudulent profits.
Board of Equalization Mismanagement
As head of the state Board of Equalization (BOE), Harkey’s mismanagement of the body was so catastrophic that Governor Brown was forced to interfere and strip it of most of its decision making powers and reduce its staff by 90%. A state audit found that the organization had misallocated tens of millions of dollars and that Harkey had violated state rules and regulations by using public employees and resources to advance her own political career. Specifically, a state audit found that Harkey misused 113 taxpayer-funded employees in an event that “appear[ed] self-promoting”, and that the BOE had tripled its spending on “education and outreach events” to nearly $3 million.
Key Issues: Taxes, spending, veterans affairs, immigration reform, support of Israel
Positions:
- Wants to lower tax rates
- Supports reduced government spending
- Advocate for veterans
- Favors immigration reform with stronger border security and reform of the nation's visa programs
- Would allow DACA immigrants to stay in the country with a new visa program
- Favors statutory rather than case law legal process for entry to the country
- Opposes amnesty for immigrants as general policy
- Strong and uncompromising support for Israel including security assistance, standing with Israel diplomatically, and resisting any UN-imposed or multilateral agreements that hurt Isreal
- Calls out Iran as the biggest threat to U.S. security
- Wants government and industry to partner around climate change initiatives that don't cost jobs or hurt the economy
- Opposes offshore drilling in California coastal waters
- Would make removal of San Onofre waste a national priority
- Believes in strong laws to deter crime
Controversies:
Point Center Financial Ponzi Scheme
Harkey held a senior position and was invested in her family’s company, Point Center Financial, which was sued by its investors – including retirees – for operating “a classic Ponzi scheme.” The company was found liable for $10 million in damages, and then found guilty of 11 charges of elder abuse. What’s more, Harkey used the profits from the company to fund her own political campaigns. She was even sued by people who were ripped off by this shady company to recoup their losses that she allegedly spent on her own political ambitions.
As the fraudulent company was under investigation by the SEC, and while Harkey was in the California State Assembly, she accepted $16,600 from firms borrowing millions from the fraudulent company. She even doubled down, saying it was “totally proper.”
The California Court of Appeal recently affirmed the multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme judgment against Harkey's husband. Dan Harkey had urged the appellate panel to overturn the original jury findings that he breached his fiduciary duties, committed financial elder abuse and flagrantly violated agreements with numerous investors who’d believed his fraudulent claims.
In a July 30 ruling, the court rejected Harkey’s appeal, declaring that “substantial evidence supports the jury’s and the trial court’s conclusions that he repeatedly made 'illusory' statements to pitched investors... Harkey looted the plaintiffs’ investment funds by running a Ponzi scheme to amass fees in their own interest on loans with only a pretense of underwriting and sham rollover loans violating operating agreements."
Despite trying to distance herself from the fraudulent company, Harkey’s connections are obvious. Besides using the profits to fund her political campaigns and being named in lawsuits related to the company, Harkey was: Invested in the company, listed as the company’s secretary in official filings, and reporting this company as her employer in campaign finance documents. And when pressed about the source of her massive political spending, Harkey admitted that it possibly came from the company’s fraudulent profits.
Board of Equalization Mismanagement
As head of the state Board of Equalization (BOE), Harkey’s mismanagement of the body was so catastrophic that Governor Brown was forced to interfere and strip it of most of its decision making powers and reduce its staff by 90%. A state audit found that the organization had misallocated tens of millions of dollars and that Harkey had violated state rules and regulations by using public employees and resources to advance her own political career. Specifically, a state audit found that Harkey misused 113 taxpayer-funded employees in an event that “appear[ed] self-promoting”, and that the BOE had tripled its spending on “education and outreach events” to nearly $3 million.
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